| February 2023 |
Dear partners,
There are moments in our ministries when hope becomes visible. This is how I would describe what it was like to be present for the ordination of Rev. Sally Azar at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem on Jan. 22. Rev. Azar is the first Palestinian woman to be ordained into pastoral ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). Hundreds of representatives of the Lutheran World Federation gathered for this historic occasion to support and affirm the long-term work and witness of the ELCJHL and its leadership for gender justice — past, present and future.
The day before the ordination, the ELCA delegation visited Ramallah. At the Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope , where Christian and Muslim Palestinian students are formed. Through presentations and dance, we experienced how students are building bridges to a better future they cannot see, one filled with dignity and art, science and curiosity, rights and responsibilities, where all flourish together.
We also met with church leaders who shared about their local ecumenical cooperation in the face of the rapid decline of the Christian community in the region. Fr. Elias Awad, the Spiritual Head of the Orthodox Churches of Ramallah Governorate, told us about the 1993 decision among Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox to commonly celebrate Christmas and Easter each year. We were struck by the simple audacity of this Christian witness where visible unity is not an abstract theological concept but a necessity.
I am grateful for each of these experiences, received as a generous gift from the “living stones” of the Holy Land. They remind me that seeing hope is essential for the work that we do. I pray that you also have stories to recount, and that you feel renewed for the year ahead.
In partnership,
Kathryn M. Lohre
Executive, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations & Theological Discernment
P.S. You may be interested in "Towards a Common Date for Easter" (the 1997 "Aleppo Statement") and the Lutheran-Orthodox Dialogue in the U.S.A. Common Response. |
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ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering to feature ecumenical and inter-religious workshops
This year's ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering will meet July 17-20 in Phoenix, Ariz., under the theme "Rekindle the Gift Within You" (2 Timothy 1:6). Through a variety of workshops, participants in this year's gathering will have the opportunity to learn about and engage with the ecumenical and inter-religious work of the ELCA and its partners. To learn more and register, visit ELCA.org/RMG.
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ELCA and Roman Catholic Church launch 13th round of national dialogue
Theologians and scholars representing the ELCA and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) met Dec. 6-8, 2022, at St. Mary's Seminary & University in Baltimore to launch their 13th round of national dialogue. The co-chairs are Bishop Patricia Lull of the ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod (Minnesota) and Bishop Denis J. Madden of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Building upon the past, Round XIII will be dedicated to a "mutual exploration and learning about holy orders/office of ministry as understood in the Catholic and (ELCA) Lutheran traditions, with special attention to the distinctive role of episcope in each tradition." You can read the press release here. The report of Round XII will be published by Fortress Press later this year.
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ELCA and LWF remember Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's life and ecumenical witness
Bishop Eaton offered condolences and a message of unceasing accompaniment to all Catholics in the wake of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's passing. The Rev. Dr. Anne Burghardt, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), also shared words of affirmation and gratitude on behalf of the LWF for the late pontiff's commitment to Christian unity. |
ELCA and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) gather in California to continue renewed dialogue
The second round of the ELCA—Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) dialogue, co-chaired by Bishop William O. Gafkjen of the ELCA Indiana-Kentucky Synod and the Rev. Dr. Robert Cornwall of the CCDOC, met in person for a second time Jan. 26-28 in Fullerton, Calif., at the Disciples Ministry Center. The CCDOC's Pacific Southwest Region and its Regional Minister the Rev. Richie Sanchez, served as gracious hosts. The Rev. Donald McCoid, bishop emeritus and former ELCA executive for ecumenical and inter-religious relations, was the guest presenter. He invited the dialogue into a process of identifying common affirmations in the groundbreaking World Council of Churches' Convergence text from 1984, Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry. This generative exercise helped the dialogue to recognize the significant common ground the denominations share and provided an entry point into deeper mutual understanding of their areas of difference.
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Moravian-Episcopal webinar series explores racial history of churches
The Moravian-Episcopal Coordinating Committee's Racial Reconciliation Working Group presented a webinar series titled "Past Reckoning: Exploring the Racial History of the Moravian and Episcopal Churches." Spanning three Wednesdays (Jan. 25, Feb. 1 and Feb. 8), the series looks at the history of the two churches from colonial times to the Civil War, from Reconstruction to Jim Crow, and from the civil rights era to today. All three episodes, along with a full list of hosts and participants, can be viewed at The Episcopal Church's Ecumenical and Interreligious landing page.
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Registration now open for 2023 National Workshop on Christian Unity in Milwaukee
Registration is now open for the 2023 National Workshop on Christian Unity (NWCU), which will take place May 8-11 at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center. The theme for the 2023 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, "Do Good; Seek Justice" (Isaiah 1:17), will double as this year's NWCU theme. The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, theologian in residence for the workshop, will lead participants as they consider three sub-topics: listening to the biblical call to justice, lamenting the lack of justice in our world, and living into justice in our communities. Each day workshop participants will join in table conversations around the praxis of justice facilitated by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center. Early bird registration is open through April 16. Learn more at NWCU.org.
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Other ecumenical opportunities
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Leaders unite to condemn anti-Christian hate in the Holy Land
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| Bishop Eaton joined with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders in condemning the recent rise in anti-Christian hate in the Holy Land, including the vandalism of a Protestant cemetery on Jan. 1. His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian of the Armenian Church of America, Rabbi Rick Jacobs of the Union for Reform Judaism and Imam Saffet Catovic of the Islamic Society of North America joined with Eaton in standing against religious bigotry. The full statement can be found here. It joins declarations by many others, including:
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Profiles in Peace
A groundbreaking new book, Profiles in Peace, explores the work of Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs in Israel and Palestine who have dedicated their lives to building peaceful relations among those who seek to live in peace and harmony with one another. Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish, who has over 30 years of experience as a peace-builder in Israel, shares stories from awe-inspiring actors on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including Bishop Emeritus Munib Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. To learn more, visit allmep.org.
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Inaugural Interfaith Spring Symposium at Augsburg University on March 2
On March 2 the Interfaith Institute at Augsburg University will host the inaugural Interfaith Spring Symposium, which aims to build community among interfaith leaders through collaboration, dialogue and networking. Najeeba Syeed, executive director of the institute and El Hibri endowed chair at Augsburg, will offer a lecture, "Interfaith Leadership and Healing in Times of Crisis." RSVPs to attend in person can be made at advancement.augsburg.edu/interfaith-symposium. A Zoom link will be shared prior to the event through www.augsburg.edu.
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Virtual Interfaith Peacemaker team training course begins March 11
OMNIA Institute for Contextual Leadership will offer its next Interfaith Peacemaker team virtual training beginning in March. The course will be presented in three-hour sessions on four successive Saturdays: March 11, March 18, March 25 and April 1. The full course costs $150; however, scholarships are available. Learn more and register at OMNIAleadership.org.
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Parliament of the World's Religions comes to Chicago in August
The Parliament of the World's Religions returns to Chicago, the birthplace of the modern interfaith movement, to celebrate its 130-year history. Parliament convenings attract participants from more than 200 religious, Indigenous and secular beliefs and more than 80 nations. Bishop Eaton will be a speaker at this year's event. Learn more and register today.
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